Since we use staples such as beach chairs and sunglasses all summer long, how are they possibly going to make it to Labor Day without looking worn out or rusty?
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Don't worry. We've got you covered.
Use these simple tricks to keep your favorite items in good condition throughout the summer:
Around the end of July, you begin to notice the bottom of your favorite beach chair rusting. Don't panic, it's probably because the ocean has come up to your chair one too many times. John Carmona, owner of the Rust Store in Madison, Wisconsin, says "Salt is one of the main causes of rust."
How do you remedy this effect on beach chairs? It's simple, Carmona says: "Give them a quick rinse with fresh water to remove the salt." When you get home, dry with a towel and if you feel like being extra cautious, you can even coat your chair frame with a basic wax."
You wear your white jeans almost every day in the summer. No wonder they're beginning to look worn out and discolored.
To avoid permanent stains, you need to wash your jeans after a maximum of two wears. Linda Cobb, the author of "Talking Dirty Laundry," gives advice on how to prevent your favorite pants from turning yellow: "Unless a garment is 100 percent cotton, avoid chlorine bleach, which can cause yellowing."
Experts recommend an additive-free version, such as Vaska Oxygen bleach, which can be purchased for as little as $7 on Amazon. Another tip to keep in mind is that once jeans start to look tattered, add half a cup of White Brite (which can be purchased in abundance for $10 at Walmart) to the washing machine after a five-minute pre-soak.
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After countless uses, your outdoor grill is bound to get grimy with all that leftover grease and food residue. For sanitary reasons, it's best to wipe down the grill immediately after you finish grilling. If you fail to do this, grease gets caught and the iron grates slowly begin to rust. To properly clean the grates, you need to remove them from the grill and scrub in soapy water with a grill brush. Rinse the clean grates with a hose and put them over a lit grill to dry them off.
There comes a time when all of your bathing suits begin to sag and the fitting just doesn't seem right anymore. Ilene Sofferman, who runs Canyon Beachwear in New York City, offers a good solution: "Rotate your swimsuits. Spandex is a memory fabric and needs a day to recover its elasticity."
After each wear, it is important to rinse your suit in cold water. In terms of the washing machine, try a gentle cycle with a light detergent after every 5-10 wears. Make sure to use a plastic lingerie case to protect padding and underwire, and don't forget that in order to keep the suit in top shape, it's best to dry it in natural sunlight.
Another solution is to try another type of suit. Try looking for one made with Xtra Life Lyrca which is more stretch resistant than the average spandex bathing suit.
Nothing is worse than when your sunglasses start falling down your face. They're probably already stretching out, and it's not even August.
Instead of wearing them around your head all day, put them in a case when you're not wearing them. Another tip: Don't leave your sunglasses in your hot car unless you want them to become distorted. And if they're already misshapen, try bring them to a local eyeglasses store for a free adjustment.
Next time you're looking for cute and durable sunglasses, try a pair with flexible-hinge frames since they are less likely to morph into a different shape.